Indexing mechanism



Aug. 15, 1944.l

R. B. STANLEY t 2,356,097

INDEXING MECHANISM Aug. 15, 1944. R. B. STANLEY INDEXING MECHANISM Filed sept. 9, 1943 4 sheets-sheet 2 Aug. 15, 1944.

R. B. STANLEY INDEXING MEGHANISM Filed Sept. 9, 1943 4 Sheets-'sheet 3 Aug.'15,1944. l R. B. STANLEY INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 9, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 15, 19.44

Richard B. Stanley, Chicago, Ill., assignor to La Salle Designing Company, Chicago, Ill., a partnership composedof Alfred J. Conn, Albert S. Ginsburg, and `Abraham Snide Application September 9, 1943, Serial No. 501,710

' 1 claims. `(c1. fao- 56) This invention relates to a mechanism for indexing a machine tool, particularly adapted for indexing a breech block thread-cutting machine.

An object of thisinvention is to provide an indexing mechanism for a machine tool to ad- Vance a workpiece into successive angularly displaced machining positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide an indexing mechanism which will cease indexing upon the completion of a desired cycle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indexing mechanism for a threading machine particularly of the type for threading the breech block of large caliber guns as described in a copending yapplication to Alfred J. Conn and Richard B. Stanley, Serial Number 511,298, led November 22, 1943, and assigned to the assignee of this application.

Thespecic nature 'of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.v 1 is a perspective view of the indexing mechanism as applied to the work driving spindle 'of a machine tool.

Fig. 2 is a similar partial rear view showing the locking bar assembly. y

Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section of part of the'headstock of a lathe showing the indexing mechanism of Fig. 1 mounted therein. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross section on theline 4-4 of Fig. `3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 5-5of Fig. 3 showing the indexing mechanism in side elevation. y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3 shown on a smaller scale.

Fig..7 is a similar'viewv with the beveled gears nism oscillating to produce a cut at the second position. A v

Fig. 11 is a detail view ofthe cam plate.

Fig. 12 is a similar view of the driving drum.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of the indexing plate.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View on the lline |4|4 of Fig. 11.

In threading certain components where the thread of such component is interrupted by a series of steps, conventional threading equipment cannot be utilized conveniently. One 'such component is the interrupted thread breech block of large caliber guns. Each step of such breech block has to be threaded separately. This is conveniently accomplishedrby a machine such as described in a co-pending application to A. J. Conn and Richard B. Stanley, Serial Number 511,298, filed November 22, 1943.

With such a machine however it is `necessary to have some form of indexing mechanism to ad- Vance the work piece to a new position after the threading of one portion has been completed. Briefly, this is accomplished in accordance with this invention by disengaging the work piece from the driving mechanism at the completion of the first threading operation and bringing the Work piece again into locked relation vwith the driving mechanism 'at a new angularv position.

Such procedure will then advance the work sothat threadingof the next step may be accomplished by the threading machine. Manyv other applications of suchV indexing mechanism will suggest themselves to those skilled in this art and this invention isV independent of any particular application to which it is applied.

There is shown in assembled relation Fig. 1

a perspective view of a portion of the barrel threading machine described in the above-mentionedV co-pending application. The apparatus to be described Vis preferably located within the headstock 2 of the particularV lmachine tool to which it is applied. Suitably mounted within the headstock is a crank shaft driven by a suitable power source (not shown). A connecting rod |94 is secured to the crank shaft V|95 and transmits an oscillating motion to a driving drum 2|5 4rotatably mounted on a shaft ||0 which is in turn rotatably mounted in the headstock. The end of the shaft I0 is enlarged to form a work supporting spindle 1 which is rotatably mounted in a bushing 2f of the headstock 2. connection of the spindle 1 to the driving drum 2|5 in proper angular relation is effected by the indexing mechanism constituting this invention.

A cam plate 20| which is approximately the same diameter as drum 2|5 is freely mount-ed onf a shaft by nmeans of a centrally bored hole and is placed-adjacent to driving drum 2 I5. Cam

Physical plate 20| comprises a thin cylindrical plate and is provided with a transverse slot 2| I on its outer periphery. A plunger 202 is suitably mounted in engage a small portion of the outer`surface of" drum 2I5 adjacent cam plate 20| For actuating plunger 202, a hand plunger 204 is provided on camdogs 22| plus an oppositely sloped cam mounted in the forward portion of bushingv 2m.V The plunger 204 comprises a cylindricalportion. 205 projecting out of bushing 2m and-a j :15,

suitable hand knob 206 mounted 'on' the project-v ing end. An axial hole 201 is' provided'in the' inner end of cylindrical portion 205 to accommodate the end of plunger 202; vA spring 208 is placed in the bottom of hole 201 and anpther- .i

spring 209 is placed about the end of plunger 202 adjacent plungeri.204. Whnpressure is applied to knob 205,'p1unger-204'is forced inwardly compressing springs 208 and 209. vPlunger.202 will in turn be forced into contact with drum 2I5 and-into engagement with slot 2| I, Ywhenlit is rotated into aligned position. A cam-projection 233 secured tothe outer periphery of drum 2|5, near the end-of drum 2I5 and adjacent cam plate 20|, is provided'to disengage plunger 202 from slot 2I| in cam plate 20|. A recess 2| 2 is provided on the face of cam' plate 20| adjacentdrum 2|5 to receive the end' 2I3b of a locking bar 2I3 to be'described. A wedge shaped arcuate cut 2|4 is provided in the non-adjacent face of camplatel 20|. An arcuate slot 2I4a is providediin camplate'ZIJI co-extensive with the cut 2|4.` Drum 2I5 isa cylindricalf member provided with two oppositely disposed-lugs 2I5a vand 2I5b which project outwardly from the arcuate surface ofthe drum Connecting rod |94 is pivot-- ally mounted between the lugs 2|5'ara`nd. 2|5b on a pin 2| 8. In this manner power is transmitted to driving drum 2|5` to oscillatethe drum about shaft III). 'Ihe extent of oscillation of course may be varied by proportioning the throwof; the crankshaft |95 With respect to the drum 2I5. In this particularapplication-Aan oscillationof` 32Vis imparted t0 the drum 2|5. L '1 Near the spindle end of shaft III), `adjacent the opposite side of 4drum 2I5,.is an index plate 200 secured to the "shaft'|| 0.Y On the surfacevof: index plate 200adjacent drum 2I5 therev are pr'ovided equally spaced tapered holes 220 extending around the periphery ofindexfplate 200'.V The number of such holes varies withl the number `ofAV indexing operations` desired. .Since'vtherel are' 12vstepped surfacesthere are-l2 such holes-220 provided,- spaced 30 apart.'V y l' f' I On the periphery offindexfplate l20.0 there are' mounted a plurality of cam dogs'22I." Eleven: such Acam dogsare provided andwith the exception ofthe number one and'number eleven cam dog, these dogs are spacedv 30 apart around the periphery of indexplate 200. TheY angular distance between -numberone cam dog 'and number eleven will thus be' 60. Each cam Vdog 22|,v except number one, ispivotally` mountedby a' bolt 249 in a recess 248 in the periphery ofy index plate.200. Each of thev cam dogs 22| is provided with a single sloping cam surface 222 on one' edge ,Which projects: beyond :index plate .200. Thesidefof each cam dog 22| fopposite-the sloped cam'surface 222 is'in abutment with one sidenof`A recess'248., For. each-cam dog-.except thenum-.V 7.5:

ber one, a torsion spring 250 (Fig. 3) is suitably mounted around each bolt 249 and biases each dog 22| into an abutting position with respect to the side of each recess 248. The remaining side surfaces of each dog 22| are arcuately shaped permitting the dog to be pivoted in a direction away from` abutment against theside of each recess- 248 and hence stressing torsion spring 250. The number 'one 'cam dog is however rigidly secured to the periphery of index plate 200 and has a sloped cam surface 222 identical to that surface 25| (Fig. 1).

Near'the vperiprheryrof driving drum 2|5 there s provided a transverse hole 224 (Fig. 3) parallel V t-'the axisofthev drum and of suitable shape to accommodate "an indexing plate locking pin 225.

One-end 225a` of pin 225 is tapered to engage anyone of the twelve tapered index holes 220 provided'on the inside surface of index plate 200 adjacent drum 2|5. Shank 226 of pin 225 is of somewhat reduced diameter and passes through hole 224 in drum 2|5'out througharcuate slot 2I4a in cam .plate 20| and terminates in a head 228, the undersurface of arcuate cut 2I4 in cam plate 20|. A spring 229 surrounding reduced' shank portion 226 of pin 225 is placed WithinU a suitably 'countei'bored portion of hole 2241and bears against the somewhat larger diameter ofthe tapered end of pin 225 to bias pin 225 into engagement .with one of the tapered holes 220 of index plate 200.

, A locking bar 2I3 (Figs. 2 and 3) comprising a narrow rectangular member is slidably mount'- ed in a slot 242 provided'in the periphery of driving drum 2| 5, running across the'drum and parallel to the axis of the drum. The end 2 I3a of the locking bar 2I3 projectspa'st the drum somewhat, overhangin'g theindex plate '200. Depending Vfrom the end`2| 3a of locking bar 2I3 which overhangs the index plate 200 is a roller 230 which is secured to locking bar 2I3 by a bolt 23| in a manner to .permit the roller 230 to the slot' 242 and hence retaining locking bar 2I3 within the Yslot 242. As' was previously mentioned, the other end 2I3b ofA locking bar 2I3 projects past the other side ofidrum 2I5 and can be engaged in the recess 2 I 2 (Fig. 2) in cam plate 20|; A It will be apparent thatthe length'of locking bar 2I3 is such that it can engage in .recess 2|2 onlywhen'it is also in position to be engaged by a cam clog 22|.

A spring 234 (Fig. 4) is connected between drum 2I5 and cam plate 20| in such a manner 'aS to resist clockwise relative movement of the drum 2 I5 with respect to the cam plate 20|. An arcuateV slot 244 is providedin the surface of drum 2|5 adjacent cam plate 20| and spring 234 is inserted-in the slot 244 Yand secured to one end thereof. A square stud 245 suitably secured to cam plate 20| projects into slot 244 and one end of spring 234 is `secured to one side'of the stud 245. Due tothe fact that cam plate 20| abuts against vdrum y2|5 the spring 234 is thereby retained in slot 244.

`Adjacent the right hand face of index plate 200, Aas viewed in Fig. 3, bevel gear'238 is freely mounted on shaft I|0 and suitably securedv to lndexplate 200.; vThe bevel gear 238 is engaged by a small bevel gear 231 whichin turn is secured to a shaft 246 which is suitably rotatably supported in the headstock frame and projects through the headstock 2. The shaft 246 is driven through a conventional unidirectional es-v capement clutch and friction brake 236 which connects with a manually operated crank handle 235. The clutch 236 permits the index plate 200 to be rotated by crank handle 235 onlyv in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. A dial indicator 239 may also be mountedY on the exterior of headstock 2 and connected by suitable gearing to shaft 246 to provide a visual indication of the angular -position of the appartus. The work supporting spindlel 1 is rotatably mounted in a bushing 2f provided in the wall of headstock 2. The spindle is secured in bushing 2f by a collar 'le threaded on the periphery of the spindle within 4headstock 2. Suitable keys 241 insure a rigid connection between spindle 1', bevel gear 238 and index plate 200.

The various parts of the indexing mechanism are initially positioned as follows. The index plate 200 is positioned with respect to drum 2|5 so that the number one dog 22| is located adja cent to the roller 230 on locking bar 2|3. This initial location is such that counterclockwise movement of the drum 2|5 with respect to index plate 200 will bring the roller 230 past the number one cam dog 22| after about 10 of rotational movement. ing mechanism the fpin 225 should be in en` gagement with the rst of holes 220 in the index plate 200. Hence the head `228 of pin 225V lies in the deepest part of the cut 2|4 in cam plate 20|. Driving `power is thus transmitted by the pin 225 from the oscillating drum 2|5 to the index plate 200 and hence to the spindle 1. In any position of engagement of the pin 225 in one of the holes 220, the end 2|3b of locking bar 2|3 is out of alignment with recess 2|2 in cam plate 20| by an angular distance less than or equal to the angular extent of oscillation of the drum 2|5. This misalignment is in a clockwise direction as viwed in Fig. 1. The slot 2H in cam plate l0| is so placed as to come into` aligned position with respect to plunger 202 near the end of each counterclockwise oscillation of drum 2|5 as shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

To automatically index the drum 2|5 with respect to spindle 1 while drum 2|5 is oscillating, hand knob 206 is manually forced-inwardly which compresses springs 208 -and 203 and plunger 202 isforced against the surface of cam plate 20|. slot 2|| in cam plate 20| at the end of the counterclockwise stroke of drum 2|5 aslshown in Fig. 8 and holds cam plate 20| stationary. As driving drum 2|5 is reversed and oscillated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 the head228 of Vpin 225 is forced to ride outwardly along the sloped surface of the cut 2|4 in cam plate 20| since cam plate 20| is now held stationary byA plunger 202. As the head 228 of pin 225 rides along the sloped surface of cut 2|4, pin 225 is retracted, compressing spring 229, andthe tapered end of pin 225 is withdrawn from the rst of the tapered holes 220 in index plate 200'. At the' moment'pin 225 is completely withdrawn from hole 220 drum 2|5 has almost completed its clockwise stroke. Index plate 200 and hence spindle 1 are disconnected from drum 2|5 and cease to move when pin 225 is withdrawn from'h'ole 220 due to friction brake 236.

A During this clockwise stroke of In the initial Iposition' of the index-k Plunger 202 then engages transverse ythe driving holes 22 0.

drum 2|,.5 the end of locking bar 2|3 has been bearing Yagainst the inside surface of cam plate 20|. Just prior to the end of the clockwise stroke the locking bar 2|3becomes aligned with and is forced into recess 2 I2 of cam plate 20! by the bias of spring 232. Concurrently cam 233 forces V out pin k202 from slot 2|| as shown in Fig. 9. Cam plate 20| is thus held in locked relation to driving drum 2|5Y and for the moment becomes an inte gral part of driving drum 2|5. The springs 208 and 203 cushion the hand of the operator on knob 206 from any shock resulting from disengagement of pin 202 from the 'cam plate. Cam plate 20| is now secured to driving drum 2|5 and is free to move with driving drum 2|5 on its counterclockvvise stroke.

During the preceding clockwise stroke cam plate 20| :has been held stationary with respect to driving drum 2|5 which has been moved relative to it. The spring 234 thus has beentensioned by this. movement. The tension of spring 234 exists while cam plate 20| and driving drum 2|5 are held in locked relation by locking bar 2I3.

`The next counterclockwise stroke of driving drum 2| 5 is now started and after a short movement, about 10 of this stroke, so that pin 225 is well past number one hole 220 in index plate 200, roller 230011 locking bar v2|3 is engaged by the cam surface 222 of cam dog 22| on the periphery of index plate 200 as shown in Fig. 10. This engagement forces locking bar 2|3 out of engagement withrecess 2|2. Then cam plate 20| is freed from drum 2|5 vand under the bias Vof spring 234 moves in the opposite direction from the counterclockwise stroke of driving drum 2|5. Such action permits locking pin 225 to slide down the arcuate cut 2|4 provided in Vcam plate- 20| under the bias of spring 229 and thus enter into engagement with the inner surface of index plate 200. The pin 225 then rides along this surface until the completion of the counterclockwise stroke of the drum and at this point the locking pin 225 is aligned with and enters into the second hole 220 which had been brought into its p osi. tion byr'the previous clockwise motion of the indexplate 200 `produced by the drum 2|5 in the manner described.

f -The spindle thus hasbeen advanced or in dexed in a clockwise direction with respect to the drum 2|5 by the 30 angular distance between lHence the next stepped surface is brought intoproper position for the cutting of threads thereon.

The indexing operation is performed eleven times to bring each of the stepped surfaces into position for the cuttingof threads. Furtherin-v dexing of the mechanism after the eleventh time is prevented due to the omission of a cam dog 22| in the space between the number one dog and number eleven dog. Because of such omission after the eleventh index the locking bar 2|3 cannot be automatically disengaged from cam plate 20|. Henceno driving connection between drum 2 l5 and spindle .1 iseffected and the operator is thus informed that the indexing has completed' one cycle. If a twelfth cam dog were provided-the mechanismobviously would indexcontinuously, advancing 30 each time. The indexingl apparatus is then returned to the starting position by rotating the crank handle 235 which engagesthe unidirection clutch 236 and revolves the index plate in counterclockwisedirection*as viewed in'Fig. 1 by means of the gears 231 and 238 attached to thecrank handle and to the face ofthe-findex-plate 200 respectively. All of the cam dogs 22| except number one have no effect on locking bar 2|3, pivoting around their mounting bolts 249 upon striking roller 230. Thus the cam surface 25| of the number one caml dog 22| strikes the roller 230 and locking bar 2|'3 is disengaged from cam plate 20|. Cam plate 20| Y then revolves under force of tensioned springr 234 and pin 225 engages the number one index'hole 220 in index plate 200 thus placing the machine in its original starting position.i

I claim:

1. In combination, a work driving shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for oscillating said drum, an indexing mechanism interconnecting said drum and, said shaft, `said indexing mechanism comprisingvan index plate secured to said shaft, said index plate havinga plurality of holes concentrically located about its center at a spacing not greater than the extent of oscillation of said drum, a spring pressed plunger in said drum arranged to engage in any one of said holes and thereby drive said work driving shaft, means for retracting said plunger out of engagement in one of said holes at the end of one stroke of the drum, braking means for stopping said index plate at the point of complete retraction, and means for releasing said plunger during the reverse stroke of the drum, said plunger engaging another hole of said index plate at the end of the reverse stroke thereby angularly indexing said work driving shaft with respect to said drum by an Yamount equivalent to the spacing between said first and second engaged holes. Y e

2. AIn combination, a work driving shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, means Vfor oscillating said drum, an indexing mechanisminterconnecting said drumand said shaft, said indexing mechanism comprising an index plate secured to said shaft, said index plate having a plurality of holes concentrically located about its center at a spacing not greater than the extent of oscillation of said drum, a spring pressed plunger in said drum arranged to engage in any one of said holes and thereby drivesaid work driving shaft, a cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent said drum, said cam plate having a cam surface in engagement with said plunger and arranged to retract said plunger from one of said holes when said drum moves relative to said cam plate, resilient meansv operative between said cam plate and said drum and tensioned by movement of said drum relativeto said cam plate, means for locking said cam plate against movement during one stroke of Asaid drum, whereby said plunger is retracted from one of said holes at the end of said stroke, braking means for stopping said index plate at the point of complete retraction, means for releasing said locking means during the reverse stroke of said drum whereby said cam plate is'returned to its initial position with respect to said drum by said resilient means, the said return movement of said cam plate releasing said plunger at the end of the said reverse stroke, said plunger engaging another one of said holes, thereby angularly indexing said work driving shaft with respect to said drum by an amount `equivalentto the spacing between said first and second engaged holes.

3. In combination, a work driving shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for oscillating said drum, an indexing vmechanism interconnecting said drum and said'shaft, said indexing mechanism comprising vanl indexvplate secured to saidshaft, said index plate having a plurality 'of holes concentrically located about its center at'a spacing not greater than the extent of oscillation of said drum, a spring pressed plunger in said drum arranged to engage in any one'of 'saidhole's Ian'dthereby'drive said work driving shaft, means for retracting-"s'aid plunger out` of engagement in one of vsaid holes at the endyof one strokeof'the drum, braking means for 'stopping said index plate at the point of complete retraction, a` plurality of 'cams equispaced on the periphery of said index plate, there being one cam' for each'of said holes,a'sprin`g pressed locking barfm'ounted on said drum, onel end of said locking' bar Aarranged to'engage said plungerretractinglmeanstoholdsaid means inthe fullyv retracted position'forfa portion of the reverse-stroke, the other end of said locking bar 'ar- Iang'ed'to engage one of said cams as said drum moves relative to Vsaid index platev on its reverse stroke, said cam operating to move said locking bar out of engagement with said plunger retracting means; thereby releasing said plunger' at the end of' the reverse stroke, said plunger engaging another of said holes in said index plate thereby angularly lindexing said work driving shaft with respect to said drum by an amount'equivalent to the spacing between said first and second engaged'holes.

4. In combinatiomla work driving shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for oscillating said drum, an indexing mechanism interconnecting said drum and said shaft, said indexing mechanism comprising an index plate secured to said shaft, said index plate' having a plurality ofholes concentrically located about its center at aspacing not greater than the extent ofoscillation of said drum, the number of said holes" corresponding to the number of indexing positions desired; a spring pressed plunger in said drum arranged to engage in any one of said holes and thereby drive said work driving shaft, means for retracting said plunger out of engagement in one ofsaid holes at the end of Vone strokeof the drum'braking means for stoppingsaid index plate pressed locking bar mounted on said drum, one

endofsaid locking bar arranged to engage said plunger retracting -meansA to hold said means in the ,fully retracted position for a portion of the reverse stroke, the other end of said locking bar arranged to engage one of said cams as said drum moves relative to said'index plate on its reverse stroke, said cam operating to move said locking bar out of engagement with said plunger retracting-means, thereby releasing said plunger at the end of the reverse stroke, said'plunger engaging another of said holes in said index plate thereby angularly indexing said work driving shaft with respect tosaid drum by an amount equivalent v-to the spacing between said first and second engaged'holes, said plunger being held in retracted position upon completion of successive indexings :corresponding to ythe numberof said holes,. 'and' means for restoring said indexing mechanism to its original condition.

plate secured to said shaft, said index plate having a plurality of holes concentrically located about its center at a spacing not greater than the extent of oscillation of said drum, the

number of said holes corresponding to the num-I ber of indexing positions desired, a spring pressed plunger in said drum arranged to engage in any one of said holes and thereby drive said work driving shaft, a cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent said drum, said cam plate having a cam surface in engagement with said plunger and arranged to retract said plunger from one of said holes when said drum moves relative to said cam plate, resilient means operative between said cam plate and said drum and tensioned by movement of said drum relative to said cam plate, means for locking said cam plate against movement during one stroke of said drum, whereby said plunger is retracted from one of said holes at the end of said stroke, braking means for stopping said index plate at the point of complete retraction, a spring pressed locking bar mounted on said drum, one end of said locking bar arranged to engage said cam plate after a limited movement of the drum-with respect to said cam plate, means for simultaneously releasing said cam plate locking means, whereby the cam plate moves with the drum for a portion of the reverse stroke, means for retracting said locking bar out of engagement with said cam plate before said drum reaches the end of the reverse stroke whereby said cam plate returns to its original position with respect to the drum by the force of said resilient means, said plunger engaging another of said holes in the index plate at the end of the reverse stroke thereby angularly indexing said work driving shaft with respect to said drum by an amount equivalent to the spacing between said rst and second engaged holes.

6. In combination, a work driving shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for oscillating said drum, an indexing mechanism interconnecting said drum and said shaft, said indexing mechanism comprising an index plate secured to said shaft, said index plate having a plurality of holes concentrically located about its center at an angular spacing not greater than the extent of oscillation of said drum, the number of said holes corresponding to the number of indexing positions desired, a spring pressed plunger in said drum arranged to engage in any one of said holes and thereby drive said work driving shaft, a cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent said drum, said cam plate having a cam surface in engagement with said plunger and arranged to retract said plunger from one of said holes when said drum moves relative to said cam plate, resilient means operative between said cam plate and said drum and tensioned by movement of said drum relative to said cam plate, means for locking said cam plate against movement during one stroke of said drum, whereby said plunger is retracted from one of said holes at the end of said stroke, braking means for stopping said index plate at the point of complete retraction, a spring pressed locking bar mounted on said drum, one end of said locking bar arranged to engage said cam plate after a limited movement of the drum with respect to said cam plate, means for simultaneously releasing said cam plate, locking means whereby the'cam plate moves with the drum for a portion of the reverse stroke, a plurality of cams equispaced on the periphery of said index plate, there being one cam for each of said holes, the other end of said locking bar arranged to engage one of said cams as said drum moves relative to said index plate on its reverse stroke, said cam operating to move said locking bar out of engagement with said cam plate prior to said drum completing its reverse stroke, whereby said cam plate returns to its original position with respect to the drum by the force of said resilient means, said plunger engaging another of said holes in the index plate at the end, of the reverse stroke thereby angularly indexing said work driving shaft with respect to said drum by an amount equivalent to the spacing between said rst and second engaged holes.

'7. In combination, a work driving shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for oscillating said drum, an indexing mechanism interconnecting said drum and said shaft, said indexing mechanism comprising an index plate secured to said shaft, said index plate having a plurality of holes concentrically located about its center at a spacing not greater than the extent of oscillation of said drum, the number of said holes corresponding to the number of indexing positions desired, a spring pressed plunger in said drum arranged to engage in any one of said holes and thereby drive said work driving shaft, a cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent said drum, said cam plate having a cam surface in engagement with said plunger and arranged to retract said plunger from one of said holes when said drum moves relative to said cam plate, resilient means operative between said cam plate and said drum and tensioned by movement of said drum relative to said cam plate, means for locking said cam plate against movement during one stroke of said drum, whereby said plunger is retracted from one of said holes at the end of said stroke, braking means for stopping said index plate at the point of complete retraction, a spring pressed locking bar mounted on said drum, one end of said locking bar arranged to engage said cam plate after a limited movement of the drum with respect to said cam plate, means for simultaneously releasing said cam plate locking means, whereby the cam plate moves with the drum for a portion of the reverse stroke, a plurality of cams on the periphery of said index plate, there being one less cams than said holes, all of said cams except the first and last being spaced apart the same angular extent as said holes, the other end of said locking bar arranged to engage one of said cams as said drum moves relative to said index plate on its reverse stroke, said cam operating to move said locking bar out of engagement with said cam plate prior to said drum completing its reverse stroke, said plunger being held in retracted position upon completion of successive indexings corresponding to the `number of said holes, and means for restoring aid indexing mechanism to its original condiion.

RICHARD B. STANLEY. 

